How much a skimmer should skim a day?

realest · #1 11/18/2007, 11:02 PM

Ok, I have a seaclone 100 skimmer. I know it is crap. But it was free and that's why I am using it.

However, I did do some research in regards of mods.

So I added a air pump and have 2 air stone in the chamber to boost up the skim.

Now my skimmer is skimming 1 cup in half a day. (Before mod, it was skimming half of cup a week).

The stuff was it skim out looks water down. Is green but is very watery.

My question is, is that normal? Or should I turn down the airstone a notch?

Thanks for any advice!

steven_dean17 · #2 11/18/2007, 11:09 PM

The more foam you have, the dryer the skim will be. The skimmer that produces the most microbubbles wins. Think milk, thats what the water inside the skimmer should look like when its working good. Dont worry, nobody tends to agree which skimmer is the best, no matter what the cost.

poppin_fresh · #3 11/18/2007, 11:10 PM

I would try to adjust it until you get a nice dark skimmate. Something is better than nothing, but the darker the better.

It sounds like its skimming too wet. Is there a way to raise the cup or lower the water level on that skimmer?

realest · #4 11/19/2007, 12:11 AM

Sorry, I don't believe I can raise the cup or lower it.

The only thing I can think of is lowering the airstone and that can slow down the skimming.

So what would you guys think I should do?

realest · #5 11/19/2007, 12:17 AM

Sorry, I don't believe I can raise the cup or lower it.

The only thing I can think of is lowering the airstone and that can slow down the skimming.

So what would you guys think I should do?

corals b 4 bills · #6 11/19/2007, 12:50 AM

I think You may need to invest in a new skimmer, try craigs list or here on RC, there will eventually be a build up of organics then nitrates-sorry.

Krewlor · #7 11/19/2007, 01:00 AM

I am not familiar with that skimmer. Is there any way to slow down the flow? If you give the bubbles a little more contact time the water the might work a little better for you.

realest · #8 11/19/2007, 01:39 AM

So my real question is, if my skimmer is skimming so fast. And the stuff that is skimmed out is so water down. Is that bad?

Like i said, before i added the pump with airstone. My skimmer skimmed about half of cup a week. Now it is skimming at half a cup day.

Will it be ok? Is it working?

I don't have space for a new skimmer plus i am trying to be on a lower end budget.

Someone please advice me besides replacing a new skimmer.

kidzatheart · #9 11/19/2007, 08:38 AM

No it is not bad, just not the best. You need a way to control the amount of air going in the skimmer. Once you do it just takes some time to figure out how much you need to get the skimmate the way you want it.

The drier the skimmate the better.HTH

steven_dean17 · #10 11/19/2007, 03:20 PM

Don't forget that some people choose not to run a skimmer at all. So in my opinion, any skimming is a good thing.

realest · #11 11/19/2007, 05:25 PM

Really? So a skimmer is not requried?

By the way, what does a skimmer skim out anyways?

it is not like my skimmer dosent work, what happen is, I did some research and people stated the skimmer I have was not that great.

So I found some fourms that people mod their skimmer.

So I went along and added the pump with airstone to boost up the skimmer.

When I did not mod the skimmer, it was skimming half of cup of dark green stuff every week.

After adding the pump and airstone. The skimmer is skimming at half of cup in about 4 hours. However, the stuff that is skimmed out is light green and it looks like it is water down.

So my question is, is it ok?

Sorry if it sounds like I am repeating myself. But that's what my question really is.

Thank you